The Last Embrace

Her waving is frantic...with urgency in her actions.

Adam swam swiftly towards her direction.

"Nana, what"s wrong?" he said.

"Ivy and Nathan were already at the gate waiting for an entry, the guard is asking me if I will let them in-?" Nana said in a worried tone.

Holy Shiit! Trouble! Adam thought to himself, then he frowned. "Nana, I thought it"s clear that we can not allow strangers to set foot in the mansion. We got secrets to protect," he said in a soft voice.

"I know. I did not instruct my children to come here. They come on their own," her voice laced with tension.

"Why they are here, Nana?" he asked softly.

"They keep pestering me about Jessy. They wanted to see her. They"ve been worried sick about her after she disappears from the party. When I told them that she is all right, they won"t accept it. They want to see Jessy with their own eyes," she explained further.

Nana Aida"s fl.u.s.tered face is a pain to watch. Adam sighed. It will be hard on Nana"s side to turn down her own children and sent them back home.

"It"s okay, Nana. They can stay here with us for a few days if they want. I will just fade away into the background. I will stay in my room the whole time they are here to avoid complications. But I hope it will be the first and the last time something like this would happen," he said firmly.

"Yes. Am sorry about this...Adam." She said apologetically.

"Nana, it"s okay. No need to apologize," he smiled at her warmly. "I will go upstairs now and bring my blood box to my bedroom." He get out from the water, took his towel and wrapped it around his waist. He waved at Jessy and gestured to her that he will go upstairs.

Jessy swam to the area where Nana is currently standing.

"Nana, what is it?" she asked. She took her towel and get out of the water reluctantly.

"Ivy and Nathan are here to see you," she said.

d.a.m.n! This is trouble...she told herself.

She and Nana walked hurriedly towards the mansion. Jessy went to her room and took a shower while Nana Aida called the guard to let her children in.

A Honda Accord Hybrid car appeared in the driveway, it parked at the entrance of the mansion. One girl and two boys came out from the car, Nana is talking to them.

Who is the other guy? Adam asked himself.

He was peeking at them through the window in his room. He can smell their strong human scent from the distance. He snorted, trying to shake away the smell from his nose. He went back to his bed. He will be grounded to his room for a few days, he doesn"t like it even a tiny bit. But if they will see him, they will be horrified with his looks. Therefore, he has no choice.

He sighed.

He can hear footsteps and a girl"s chatter on the hallway outside his room. That must be Ivy.

He picked up his smartphone and play music on it, he inserted the earplug on his ears and closes his eyes. Jessie"s beautiful face appears on his mind, he smiled wistfully.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Jessy! " Ivy screamed, glad to see her friend in person. She enveloped Jess in a bear hug, her brown curly hair bouncing around her head. "Am so glad you are okay, safe and looking beautiful as ever!" she added in exuberant voice.

"h.e.l.lo Ivy! Nice to see you again!" she greeted her enthusiastically and returned the hug.

"OMG! Your bed is so huge!" Ivy exclaimed in glee and jumped right into the bed. "Your bed is so comfy!"

Jess watched her friend"s reaction with amus.e.m.e.nt. Ivy has always been a bubbly girl.

"C-Can I stay here with you in your room?" Ivy asked with a puppy dog eyes.

"Of course you can," she replied.

"Wait a minute...let me ask you something." Ivy"s face turned serious. "Why you suddenly disappeared from the party? What happened to you back then? You scared the h.e.l.l out of us. We"ve been really worried about you." Ivy"s face is in a state of bewilderment.

A sudden lump formed on Jess" throat. Remembering the horrific incident is not pleasant for her. She cleared her throat, her friend is waiting for an answer. She went to her bed and sat beside her friend. "Ivy-you know I don"t like parties. Am not comfortable with many people surrounding me. So I went out of the bar and hired a taxi cab to take me home. Am so sorry I did not inform you guys," she tried hard to make her alibi believable.

Ivy looked at her with raised eyebrows. "It"s okay, I understand. You are forgiven, Jess. But you are so weird!" Ivy had seen a cloud of darkness in Jess" eyes. But she chooses not to pursue the matter, her friend has no intention to reveal anything to her. She walks towards the window and opens it wider. She saw a sparkling lake, few meters away from the mansion. "Wow! Amazing place you have here! Can we go swimming in the lake-Jess?" she asked excitedly.

Ivy"s cheerful gibbering penetrate Jess nightmarish thoughts. Currently, her mind went back to the dark incident two weeks ago. Flashbacks begun appearing on her mind, she shook her head, trying to erase them. She stood abruptly and joined Ivy on the window.

"Yes, of course, we can go swimming in the lake tomorrow," Jess replied in a bland manner.

"Not tomorrow, Jess. I want to swim tonight! Let"s have a night swimming party!" Ivy raves.

Jess" eyes twinkled in amus.e.m.e.nt. "No problem."

For the first time in a decade, the mansion is filled with the noisy chatter of four boisterous teenagers. They were sitting comfortably around the dining table, eating dinner. Nana Aida prepared a dinner feast for them, she cooked honey garlic glazed chicken, pork and vegetable stew and b.u.t.tered shrimp for their dinner. Her face beamed while watching the kids animated faces. She feels glad they were enjoying the foods she prepared for them.

Jess smiled at Matthew who is sitting beside her. He is Nathan"s best friend, the owner of the car.

Outside the window, Adam watched them dryly, his form is fully obscured by the shadow surrounding him. He"s been observing them for ten minutes already. He is feeling vexed that Jessy is showering the other guy her attention. Maybe she"s just being friendly, he told himself. He feel J-E-L-O-U-S!

It does not help that the boy is good looking and he got Jess" full attention now. They would laugh at each other"s words and it"s painful to see on Adam"s side. He gritted his teeth, clearly annoyed.

He continues to observe them.

Nathan begun telling his dinner companions about a funny joke, and within seconds they erupted in loud laughter.

Then Adam shifted his gazed back on Jess. Her smiling face shows that she is having lots of fun with her friends. She seemed to be enjoying their company. The same smile can be seen on Nana Aida"s face.

Somehow, Jess" feel his intense stare because she glanced at Adam"s direction, then she winked acknowledging his presence.

Adam"s heart does a somersault on his rib cage.

He smiled sadly. When he is gone, Jess would have no difficulty blending with new people and he will be forgotten in no time.

He looked at Nana Aida, she also looks happy surrounded by her real children. After his death, Jess will be claimed by his brother and Nana Aida will return to her family. They will do fine in the future without me, a ton of sadness and melancholy weighted heavily on his chest.

He can"t take it anymore. He departed hastily and retreated back to his room. He can no longer stomach watching them with their merriment. He feels like he was an outcast.

Once inside the comfort of his room...he keeps pacing back and forth...

He opened his laptop and scan the headline for a piece of news. There was an update regarding the death of the four serial killers and rapist who abducted Jessy. The news caught the whole country"s attention. Their death was caused by drug overdose, that was what the autopsy revealed. Upon further investigation, the police learned and uncover more raped victims on their records. The police searched their homes and found the dungeon in the bas.e.m.e.nt, a woman"s skeleton was also discovered in the bas.e.m.e.nt along with discarded women"s dresses. Tons of raped videos were also uncovered on the site, they are actual footage"s of the violent raped scenes they instigated on their victims.

Sick b.a.s.t.a.r.ds! Rot in h.e.l.l! Until now he keeps cursing them in his minds.

He suddenly turn off his laptop and blew off some steam by inhaling and exhaling air deeply into his lungs.

Adam did not inform Jess about the news, afraid that she will remember her painful abduction and it will re-open her trauma and nightmares.

He climbs on his bed, trying to sleep.

Two hours pa.s.sed swiftly. Unable to sleep, he walks towards the window. He can see the lively group of four frolicking in the lake. Their laughter and chatters echoed in the air. After a while, they huddled in front of a bonfire, talking and chatting.

They surely are having a good time, Adam told himself icily.

He felt bored!

"I want to join their fun!" He said with a mischievous glint in his eyes. He went to his wardrobe and retrieve his black sweatshirt from the drawer and donned it on his body.

Then he leaped from the window and vanishes below.

Unnoticed, he starts climbing on the oak tree beside the lake, it"s situated near the bonfire. He settled comfortably on a branch, feet dangling with a smirk on his eyes.

He was observing the group...

Thinking of a way to play a prank on them...

Then an idea formed on his mind. He grinned widely.

He waved his hand around the lake, the light of the lamp post that surrounds the lake were turn off instantly. Next, the bonfire suddenly died away and lost it"s embers, the lake is totally submerged in thick darkness.

The group shrieked in panic, surprised and fear descended upon them...

Hahahaha....Adam chuckled to himself. He found their reaction amusing and hilarious, lol.

After a few seconds...he waved his hand again, restoring the light on the lamp post and the bonfire suddenly lit with fire.

"What the f.u.c.k just happened!?" the group screamed in unison. They looked at each other in panic and fear, except for Jessy. No one speaks, but the fear in their faces were mounting as seconds pa.s.ses by...they finally scrambled to their feet ready to flee the area...

Adam waves his hand right away and freezes the three human beings, they were rooted on the spot instantly, except for Jessy, she stood still with mouth agape...she already knew who is responsible for the current mysterious happenings in the lake.

Adam descended from the tree wearing his black sweatshirt and the hood covering his head. He dressed in black which look intimidating. He walked towards his ladylove in slow motion.

Jess looked at Adam, pouting. "What have you done!? You are scaring our visitors!" She chastised him.

Adam smiled, he loves it when Jess" displays anger on her face, she looks more adorable and cute. He suddenly cupped her face and planted a wet kiss on her lips. He truly misses her!

Jess was taken off guard, but she opened her mouth nonetheless, allowing his tongue more access to her mouth. Adam groaned. "I miss you, Jess!" His kiss deepened. She returned his kiss with great fervor.

Then she gently pushes him away from her. "Lol, get over with it! We have visitors," she retorted in a perky manner.

Then she suddenly remembers that they were surrounded by her friends. "OMG! They saw us kissing!" she said, horrified.

"No need to worry-Jess. I freeze their brains and eyes as well," he chuckled.

"Why did you freeze them?" she folded her arms.

"That is their punishment for taking you away from me," he retorted dryly. Then he wrapped her in his arms tenderly. "I will sleep in your room tonight," he said in a husky voice.

"No. You can"t. Ivy will be sleeping in my room tonight," she replied.

Adam sighed heavily, clearly disappointed.

Then he claimed back her lips and kiss her pa.s.sionately...she moaned in pleasure.

But she did not let their kiss lingers for too long, she pushes him gently away from her body. "Unfreeze them now!" she ordered.

"Yes Ma"am," he planted one more swift kiss to her already swollen lips. "Goodnight, Jess." Then he disappears from her sight completely.

Ivy, Nathan and Matthews body starts moving, then they broke into a run towards the entrance of the mansion...screaming.

Jess" tried to contain her laughter. She finds their reaction very funny. Then she started walking towards the mansion.

She found them inside, huddled in front of Nana.

"Mother, the lake is hunted!" Ivy screamed in fright.

"Yes. The light and f-fire suddenly went off and then r-return back after a few seconds. I never saw anything like it in my whole existence!" Nathan seconded, mouth quivering.

"I saw a black figure hovering above the tree, looking at me!" Matthew added with a trembling voice.

Jess rolled her eyes...

She and Nana stared at each other, they know better...

"That was the lady in the lake, telling you guys to stop swimming and go to sleep." Nana Aida said grinning, totally amused by the whole situation.

"Mother, you are not helping!" Ivy complained.

"Hush now child, go to sleep. Party is over!" she said. "Ivy-you go now with, Jess!" she ordered her daughter.

"You guys will sleep downstairs, follow me!" she motioned the boys to follow her.

After the young adults settled comfortably in their respective beds, the mansion went into a silent mode.